Speaker: Ji Pengcheng, President of Meishu magazine of the China Artists Association; Secretary-General of the Curatorial Committee of the Beijing Artists Association

On May 12, 2026, the School of Fine Arts at Nanjing Normal University invited Ji Pengcheng, President of Meishu magazine of the China Artists Association, to deliver a special academic lecture on the development of contemporary Chinese art, curatorial practice, and innovation in the cultural tourism and creative industries.
Drawing on his professional experience, Ji systematically reviewed the development and functional transformation of contemporary art institutions in China, and introduced Meishu, founded in 1950. As an authoritative academic journal in the Chinese art world, Meishu serves as an important bridge connecting academic research, artistic creation, and the wider public.
Ji also highlighted major national art projects currently under development, including the Yearbook of Chinese Art, the National Art Archives (Fine Arts Section), and the China Artists Association Digital Art Museum, which is scheduled to launch in June.
In discussing the cultivation of young artistic talent, Ji introduced the China Artists Association’s “100 Series” Young Partners Program. Taking “Curating 100” in Wuhan as an example, he explained how the project solicits proposals nationwide and focuses on diverse spaces such as former factories, communities, and universities. Supported by platform resources and social funding, it has developed into an urban curatorial art season distinct from conventional biennials, promoting public engagement with art and revitalizing urban cultural life.
The lecture also presented several full-chain case studies in cultural tourism and creative industries, including the development of cultural and creative IP for the Summer Palace, the Ukiyo-e Stationery Festival, Zigong Lantern Festival’s night economy, the “Beautiful China” rural revitalization initiative, and global literacy-oriented art education for children. Ji emphasized that art projects should connect academic research, creation, design, production, communication, and consumption, forming a complete cycle that integrates social and economic benefits.
Ji noted that China has entered a stage of multi-centered cultural development, in which different regions should draw on their own cultural resources, build distinctive cultural communities through scenario-based thinking, and activate new momentum for regional development through artistic creativity.
Grounded in the forefront of the industry, the lecture combined theoretical vision with practical value. It helped bridge the gap between campus learning and professional practice, offering fresh perspectives for students and faculty across different disciplines.